[The #77 is one of the messages in this email, the other is the fact
that you are not required to pull over immediately, as long as you
signal the police or phone them to let them know you will pull over in a
"safe zone".
Every body needs to read & pass this on.
Cell Phone Feature #77 on your cell phone.
I never even knew about this #77 feature! This actually happened to one
of my dearest friend's daughter. Her daughter, Lauren, is 19 yrs old
and in college.
This happened to her over the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. It
was the Saturday before New Year's and it was about 1 PM in the
afternoon. Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car
pulled up behind her and put his lights on.
My friend and her husband have 4 children (high school and college age)
and have always told them NEVER to pull over for an unmarked car on the
side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a gas station, etc.
So Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly
called #77 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she
would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher
that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his
rooftop behind her.
The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was
and there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that
he had back up already on the way.
Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind
her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car
behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the
ground..........the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a
car, you should NOT pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police
have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You
obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put
on your hazard lights) or call #77 like Lauren did.
Be safe and pass this on to your friends. Awareness is everything.
P.S. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE YOU CAN ALSO . TURN ON YOUR TURN
SIGNAL TO LET THEM KNOW . THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THEY ARE BEHIND YOU
AND THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER.]
I'm wondering if it's for real or a hoax.
Neil Vonhof
Seattle